Special report: Premier Wen attends int'l meetings, visits Singapore

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) shakes hands with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong after signing the Framework Agreement for the Development of the Sino-Singapore Eco-city Project in Singapore on Nov. 18, 2007. Wen Jiabao arrived in Singapore on Sunday for an official visit and would attend a series of regional summit meetings to be held in the country. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    SINGAPORE, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong reached important common understanding on enhancing mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation during their talks on Sunday, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman.

    The bilateral relations between China and Singapore have seen big progress and have turned to a track of rapid, stable and mature development, though the two countries established diplomatic ties only 17 years ago, Wen said during the talks.

    The two countries have maintained frequent high-level visits and deepened political trust while the economic cooperation is pragmatic, efficient and fruitful, Wen said.

    China and Singapore have also kept close contact and coordination on regional issues, he added.

    "We highly appreciate that the Singaporean government has repeatedly stated its one-China policy and its opposition to 'Taiwan independence' activities," Wen Jiabao said.

    The Chinese Premier pointed out that China and Singapore are both important Asian countries that share common interests in many areas.

    Strengthening bilateral cooperation, which is a common aspiration, conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and is conducive to promoting peace and prosperity in the region, Wen said.

    China is willing to make joint efforts with Singapore to push the bilateral friendly cooperation to a new height, he said.

    Lee Hsien Loong, on his part, said that Singapore, taking China as an important partner, attaches great importance to developing relations with China from strategic perspective and hopes to expand contact and cooperation between the two countries.

    Lee reiterated that Singapore firmly adheres to one-China policy and opposes "Taiwan independence", adding that the position is the foundation of the strategic partnership between Singapore and China and will not change.

    Adhering to one-China policy and safeguarding cross-straits peace is of great significance to the stability and prosperity in Asia and the world as a whole, Lee said.

    Singapore and China share similar and identical views on many important issues and the two countries respect and trust each other, he said.

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